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Car Forum / Honda Cars / September 2004Advice needed: Looking for new car, perhaps Honda
Ok, I used to have a Honda 15+ years ago. It was first made in Canada and I have been plagued with problems from day one. I said to myself that I would never get another Honda. Now, I am selling my 2002 VW Jetta because it too has many problems. I could have bad luck, dunno. So, what I am looking for is a car that will spend the least amount of time in the shop (warranty or otherwise). I would like the most bang for my buck but ABS is a must a 4 wheel disc is a plus.I am looking for decent acceleration and very good mileage (no hybrid please). I also don't like the car to be femine looking. I looked at the interior of the Honda's a couple of years ago and I wasn't impressed. I am also concerned with the high thefts/break-ins of Hondas. I live in North America's number one capital for car break-ins and Honda is at the top of the list. So, the insurance deductible is a concern. I have to buy new since I have what appears to be "bad luck" and I am not someone who will or plans to do self-maintenance on the car. Are there any models or cars that one would recommend? BTW, I am in my later 30's. Thanks >look at the toyota scion tc, I have one and love it. what do you consider good gas mileage? I'll just tell you a couple that I like. :) + Have you considered the Saturn Vue (V6). a nice mating with Honda's 3.5L V6 which delivers 250hp. I think the 3.5L gives 20-28 mpg, not bad for the performance and price. GM also has a $3000 rebate on them as well which has you paying $19980 before taxes. (http://www.edmunds.com/) Not bad! Plus who wants to steal a Saturn!?!? + Scion tC. (low roof) + Subaru Legacy/Impreza + Toyota Corolla XRS (6 speed manual only). The other corolla engine is good, but not like this one! + Nissan Altima + Mazda 6 + Mazda 3 + Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V (6 speed manual only) (which you can find for under $15.5k) good luck! > Ok, I used to have a Honda 15+ years ago. It was first made in Canada > and I have been plagued with problems from day one. I said to myself [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > Thanks > Ok, I used to have a Honda 15+ years ago. It was first made in Canada > and I have been plagued with problems from day one. I said to myself > that I would never get another Honda. like what? you mustve gotten one of the few bad ones. > Now, I am selling my 2002 VW Jetta because it too has many problems. do tell! can i guess... a quart of oil every 1000 miles? electrical problems? brake/ABS malfunctions? > I could have bad luck, dunno. So, what I am looking for is a car that > will spend the least amount of time in the shop (warranty or [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > Are there any models or cars that one would recommend? BTW, I am in > my later 30's. shop toyota. theyve got something youd like. > Thanks : like what? you mustve gotten one of the few bad ones. Wow, were do I start. Repeated rotor warpage, interior seats poorly stitched, headlight seals broken, poor quality paint (Honda repainted the entire car), MAP sensor replacement, throttle body replacement, proportion valve replacement, radio replaced, windows seals replaced, transmission replaced three times. I probably missed a few things.... : > Now, I am selling my 2002 VW Jetta because it too has many problems. : : do tell! can i guess... a quart of oil every 1000 miles? electrical : problems? brake/ABS malfunctions? Actually, none of the above. Mine is a TDI. Using synthetic oil. Door seal replaced, tires replaced, wheel alignment issues, tranmssion linkage issues, interior console replacement, rattling and creaking from trunk area, rear strut mounts and bushings replacement, and clogging of the intake. All within 31,000 km. : shop toyota. theyve got something youd like. Unless it's a sporty model, most Toyotas are too "femine" for me. I drove the Camry and I prefer my TDI. > Wow, were do I start. Repeated rotor warpage, interior seats poorly > stitched, headlight seals broken, poor quality paint (Honda repainted > the entire car), MAP sensor replacement, throttle body replacement, > proportion valve replacement, radio replaced, windows seals replaced, > transmission replaced three times. I probably missed a few things.... I'd long ago have asked Honda simply to replace the car. They would have done that (for me, anyway). >>Wow, were do I start. Repeated rotor warpage, interior seats poorly >>stitched, headlight seals broken, poor quality paint (Honda repainted [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > I'd long ago have asked Honda simply to replace the car. They would > have done that (for me, anyway). I really think you had a lemon, because that really doesn't sound like a Honda. Even today, I still see quite a few late 80s Accords and Civics driving around Toronto (looking like rust buckets, but they still work), whereas most other cars from that generation have all but dissapeared. We have owned 4 Hondas in my family over the past few years, 94 and 02 Accords, 99 Odyssey and an 01 Prelude and the only major repair was a failed transmission on the Odyssey (covered under the warranty). Otherwise, only minor things, and only after 150k km (95k miles) on the 94 Accord. Give Honda a try, they are still some of the most reliable cars on the market today. Cosmin : I really think you had a lemon, because that really doesn't sound like a : Honda. Even today, I still see quite a few late 80s Accords and Civics [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] : Give Honda a try, they are still some of the most reliable cars on the : market today. I think it was a lemeon. I was working at Honda at the time, that's how I got them to repaint the beast. However, they wouldn't replace the car. I got rid of it at the end of the 4 year mark. It still had a year left on the warranty. Ok, so if I do decide on a Honda, which model, and cylinder would bring me the most bang for the buck and still be reliable. BTW, I should tell y'all I think I am cursed when it comes to reliability. ;-) Anyhow, I really don't like the looks of the Civic or the Corolla for that matter. They are too "girly" for me. I haven't seen the Civic sports model though. Accords seem to be expensive and they have tranny issues (deja vu) but I do like it looks wise. I probably will go to an automatic this time. I may lease (kinda like an insurance policy) but I really get screwed if I lease an import unlike a North American model such as GM. There is also a cost factor that with the domestics they do offer a lot of incentives so the monthly car payment is lower. Suggestions? [snip] > Ok, so if I do decide on a Honda, which model, and cylinder would > bring me the most bang for the buck and still be reliable. BTW, I > should tell y'all I think I am cursed when it comes to reliability. > ;-) [snip] Whichever model you decide on, do not get the automatic transmission, especially if you're looking for a sporty feel to the car. Granted, automatics have come a long way in the past 20 years, but they are still slower, less responsive and reliable than the manuals. A V6 engine will offset some of those drawbacks (at a cost in even worse reliability), but an I4 engine, especially the Civic one, will be sloooooow. I was recently in the market for another car to replace the 94 Accord before it completely devalued, and I decided to get the 01 Prelude SE 5spd. With only 18k miles, mint shape, it cost me as much as a brand new Civic Si coupe, but it's a much better car. But if you're looking for a brand new car, then maybe the Acura RSX, or the Accord coupe (I4). Those were some of the sporty cars I was considering before settling on the Prelude. If you're looking for a sedan, the Civic sedan looks completely dated, and the Corolla is not much better. However, have you ever considered the Mazda 3? I love the styling, and the performance with the 160hp engine is pretty good. It gets close to the price of the Accord though and it's in such high demand you're not likely to get any incentives from the dealers. Cosmin "Cosmin N." <no@email.com> wrote in message news:LyBSc.5385$: : Whichever model you decide on, do not get the automatic transmission, : especially if you're looking for a sporty feel to the car. Granted, : automatics have come a long way in the past 20 years, but they are still : slower, less responsive and reliable than the manuals. A V6 engine will : offset some of those drawbacks (at a cost in even worse reliability), : but an I4 engine, especially the Civic one, will be sloooooow. This is why I may need to look at the domestics because they *should* have better reliability than the imports. My TDI is a 5 speed and it really is a nuisance in the city and when I have to stop on hills. It also ticks me off when the bozo behind me is right on my butt when I have some roll. : I was recently in the market for another car to replace the 94 Accord : before it completely devalued, and I decided to get the 01 Prelude SE [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] : were some of the sporty cars I was considering before settling on the : Prelude. Me and used get along as much as oil and water. No matter how hard I try, we can't mix. : If you're looking for a sedan, the Civic sedan looks completely dated, : and the Corolla is not much better. However, have you ever considered : the Mazda 3? I love the styling, and the performance with the 160hp : engine is pretty good. It gets close to the price of the Accord though : and it's in such high demand you're not likely to get any incentives : from the dealers. Agreed, it's very dated along with the Corolla. I seriously thought about the Mazda 3 and with ABS it is in the same ballpark price as my TDI. However, I don't like the styling of the 3. Perhaps I am a good candidate to lease a domestic car for three years until something comes my way that I like that way the car will be fully under warranty regardless of [most] problems? [snip] > This is why I may need to look at the domestics because they *should* > have better reliability than the imports. My TDI is a 5 speed and it > really is a nuisance in the city and when I have to stop on hills. It > also ticks me off when the bozo behind me is right on my butt when I > have some roll. The domestics have far worse reliability than Honda in every respect, including the transmission. Honda got so much bad publicity because it is very uncommon for them to have ANY problems, whereas with the domestics replacing a transmission is just "regular maintenance". I do understand your frustration with the manual transmission on your TDI. It happens to me all the time that someone stops too close, but I usually leave myself enough room in the front to pull up a bit, and when people see I drive a manual, they back off. Rush hour traffic is another issue though. :P [snip] > Me and used get along as much as oil and water. No matter how hard I > try, we can't mix. I understand. I think I looked at 15 Preludes before I bought mine... > Agreed, it's very dated along with the Corolla. I seriously thought > about the Mazda 3 and with ABS it is in the same ballpark price as my > TDI. However, I don't like the styling of the 3. Perhaps I am a good > candidate to lease a domestic car for three years until something > comes my way that I like that way the car will be fully under warranty > regardless of [most] problems? That's definitely an option if you don't really care what kind of car you drive. Just don't buy it though, the domestics have no resale value and you don't want to be stuck with one. Next year the new Civic will come out (and hopefully they'll do a good job on it, unlike the current one), the new Sentra and a few others will come out soon as well. By the time your lease will expire all the new models will be on the market. Cosmin > This is why I may need to look at the domestics because they *should* > have better reliability than the imports. My TDI is a 5 speed and it > really is a nuisance in the city and when I have to stop on hills. It > also ticks me off when the bozo behind me is right on my butt when I > have some roll. Don't. I'm in the UK, but as a Current classic Saab owner, and soon to be generation 4 Prelude owner, I hear so many horror stories from US forum/Newsgroup people who own Saabs and domestic US cars, and jap cars. The Jap and Saab owners are happy, with Saab weirdness, and jap reliability. The domestic and Saab owners all state how much better Saab is than US domestic, but long for the reliability of Jap cars to go with the longevity of Saabs. Euro cars like saab and VW etc can be odd. But having learned to drive a stick, I don't understand how you could consider going back to a slushmatic, you think you roll back bad now, try it with a slush box. You just need to learn a little more clutch control, and get on the bite before releasing the brake or parking/emergency brake.  SignatureThe poster formerly known as Skodapilot. http://www.bouncing-czechs.com : Don't. : [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] : You just need to learn a little more clutch control, and get on the bite : before releasing the brake or parking/emergency brake. I hear ya. With my TDI, I dont need to use the handbrake. The car has enough torque to handle most hills but sometimes I need to be hard on the clutch in the hills. I don't like it and that stresses me out. In general, I am one of those people that can easily get stressed out, > the Civic or the Corolla <snip> are too "girly" for me. <snip> > I probably will > go to an automatic this time. First you insult my manhood and then you wimp out and go to an automatic??? <vbg> : First you insult my manhood and then you wimp out and go to an automatic??? You drive a Civic or Corolla? Don't be offended dude, it's just my preference and my opinion. If you are happy with the aesthetics with your car, great and good for you. It's just not my style. It doesn't mean I am right, it just my opinion. As far as wanting an automatic? Well, it's a lot less stress for me in the city during rush hour. > You drive a Civic or Corolla? Don't be offended dude, Oh, don't worry blondee_yvr, I'm not at all. (vbg = "very big grin", common enough in another venue but maybe not known here, sorry--my comment was meant as a joke) I just got a 94 Civic, and considering what I came from it's a huge step up in looks. I wholly agree that automatic is much better for lots of city driving--my last was an automatic, but most of my driving is hwy and I needed a change. Abe > Anyhow, I really don't like the looks of the Civic or the Corolla for > that matter. They are too "girly" for me. I haven't seen the Civic > sports model though. Accords seem to be expensive and they have > tranny issues (deja vu) but I do like it looks wise. no civic? no accord? looks like you arent going to be buying a honda car. >>> Wow, were do I start. Repeated rotor warpage, interior seats poorly >>> stitched, headlight seals broken, poor quality paint (Honda repainted [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > driving around Toronto (looking like rust buckets, but they still work), > whereas most other cars from that generation have all but dissapeared. even in so cal, where cars dont rust, i see a lot of older hondas. late 80s and up. i still think the 90-94(?) gen accords look nice. what i dont see are a lot of crapaliers, escorts and tempos from that era. > We have owned 4 Hondas in my family over the past few years, 94 and 02 > Accords, 99 Odyssey and an 01 Prelude and the only major repair was a [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Give Honda a try, they are still some of the most reliable cars on the > market today. honda can afford to lose a few customers for the few lemons they make. they end up being replaced by disgruntled GM/ford/chrysler owners. and of those, most end up happy and stick around. if not with honda, then acura, or toyota and lexus. its a net gain. > Cosmin I bought an '03 Accord in part because of Honda's "reputation" for quality. So far I am not impressed with the number of seeming unfixable interior rattles. Mine has also been recalled to modify the transmission. Hmmmm. John > I bought an '03 Accord in part because of Honda's "reputation" for quality. > So far I am not impressed with the number of seeming unfixable interior > rattles. Mine has also been recalled to modify the transmission. Would you have preferred, that Honda did not issue a recall for your vehicle's transmission? SignatureBrian A balanced diet is a chocolate chip cookie in each hand. Got a 2002 Accord EX 4door 4 banger. 22,000 miles, not a single problem Also have a 1986 prelude 235,000 miles. Still running like a top. Had a 1990 Accord EX 135,000 miles. Ran like a top until the deer decided he wanted to get a real close look at the front of the car. Would I buy another Honda?? You bet, in a heartbeat. > I bought an '03 Accord in part because of Honda's "reputation" for quality. > So far I am not impressed with the number of seeming unfixable interior [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > John I would suggest the '86 or the '90. Does the 2002 have an AC delco battery? > Got a 2002 Accord EX 4door 4 banger. > 22,000 miles, not a single problem [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! > -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- > I would suggest the '86 or the '90. Does the 2002 have an AC delco battery? my 98 civic hatch does, and its still working. > Ok, I used to have a Honda 15+ years ago. It was first made in Canada > and I have been plagued with problems from day one. I said to myself > that I would never get another Honda. > > Now, I am selling my 2002 VW Jetta because it too has many problems. > I could have bad luck, dunno. So, what I am looking for is a car that > will spend the least amount of time in the shop (warranty or > otherwise). I would like the most bang for my buck but ABS is a must > a 4 wheel disc is a plus.I am looking for decent acceleration and very > good mileage (no hybrid please). I also don?t like the car to > be [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > I have to buy new since I have what appears to be "bad luck" and I am > not someone who will or plans to do self-maintenance on the car. > > Are there any models or cars that one would recommend? BTW, I am in > my later 30?s. > > Thanks My roommates from quite a few years back had a Honda Accord. He would just change oil & filter on it, and basically do minimal maintenance. Last I checked on that car, it had 200k miles on it, and still running good. His car might be an exception, or yours, I don?t know. What is a "feminine looking " car? > > Ok, I used to have a Honda 15+ years ago. It was first made in > Canada [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > Last I checked on that car, it had 200k miles on it, and still running > good. His car might be an exception, or yours, I don?t know. |
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